Electronic apparatus, information communications apparatus, management system for same electronic apparatus, and management method for same electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

A management system of the present invention is provided with an electronic apparatus having a specific function, such as a digital composite machine, an information management apparatus, and a plurality of service information terminals. the information management apparatus and a plurality of the service information terminals are linked with the electronic apparatus via a network. After the operation of the digital composite machine, which has been serviced, is resumed, operation information is prepared, for example, by inputting operating condition into an operation panel in accordance with judgement made by a user, so as to transmit the operation information to the information management apparatus. The information management apparatus uses the operation information, at least as a judgement reference for judging whether or not it is necessary to redo the service, so as to instruct the service information terminal to redo the service, for example. In this way, it is possible to provide a management system and a management method for the electronic apparatus, which appropriately manage the electronic apparatus by using advantageously characteristics of E-mail.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, an information communications apparatus that can be connected with the electronic apparatus, a management system for the electronic apparatus, and a management method for the electronic apparatus. Especially, the present invention relates to an electronic apparatus and an information communications apparatus, a management system for the electronic apparatus, and a management method for the electronic apparatus, which are helpful in case where highly technical service by a service personnel is required, especially in an image forming apparatus, and which are able to automatically provide various information helpful for carrying out the technical service.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Recently, various attempts have been made to give additional functions in a network (for example, a LAN) structured by connecting a computer, a printer, and other various electronic apparatuses, besides a function to send information via the network. Especially, several technologies for managing an electronic apparatus effectively by means of a function of E-mail.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2707459 (Japanese Un-Examined Patent Application, Tokukaihei, No. 2-172348: published on Jul. 3, 1990) discloses a facsimile apparatus provided with interface means having an E-mail function, so that the facsimile apparatus is connected with a network via the interface means. In short, the facsimile apparatus is used as the electronic apparatus.

[0004] In case a sender (a user to send information) of image information inputs a user's identification information used in the computer network as his sender's identification information (sender's ID information), the facsimile apparatus prepares transmission result report information that reports a transmission result after the transmission of the image information is completed, then sends the transmission result report information in a form of E-mail addressed to the sender's ID information via the computer network. Furthermore, in case the facsimile is received, when identification information (receiver's ID information) of a receiver (a user receive the information) is notified before the transmission, the facsimile apparatus prepares receipt result report information that reports a receipt result after completion of receiving the image information, then sends the receipt result report information in a form of E-mail addressed to the receiver's ID information via the computer network, at the same time the transmission result report information is sent via the computer network.

[0005] With the above arrangement, when a facsimile message is transmitted or received by a user of the computer network which is connected with the facsimile apparatus, the transmission result and the receipt result are automatically sent respectively to the sender or the receiver from the facsimile apparatus. This allows the sender and the receiver to surely obtain the information regarding the transmission or the receipt of the image information by checking receipt of an E-mail at their computers, without going to a place where the facsimile apparatus is located.

[0006] Moreover, Japanese Un-Examined Patent Application, Tokukai, No. 2000-181302 (published on Jun. 30, 2000) discloses an image forming apparatus management system, in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a central management apparatus equipped with a computer are connected via a public communications network, a communications adaptor, and a wire or wireless interface, for performing central management of each image forming apparatus by using the central management apparatus.

[0007] The image forming apparatus management system has main objects to reduce a number of communications lines, communications period and a communications charge, and to shorten a processing time of the central management apparatus. To achieve the objects, each image forming apparatus is provided with data management means, while data recording means, data processing means and data transmission mean for reporting no data acquisition are provided in a management terminal to be connected with the communications adaptor. Further, the central management apparatus is provided with data transmission means for reporting a service request.

[0008] The image forming apparatus uses data management means, which is provided in the image forming apparatus, so as to manage usage information of the image forming apparatus, while outputting response data, which shows the usage information, upon receipt of data reading instructions from the management terminal.

[0009] The management terminal, to begin with, records in the data recording means information on types of the image forming apparatuses, the usage information, and data including data collection date or data accumulation date. Then, the management terminal automatically sends data reading instructions to each image forming apparatus on the data collection date or the data accumulation date, or a few days before that. The data processing means collects or accumulates the response data respectively outputted from the data management means of each image forming apparatus. Meanwhile, if no response data is acquired, the data transmission means for reporting no data acquisition automatically sends reporting data for reporting no data acquisition to the central management apparatus.

[0010] The central management apparatus is arranged to use the data transmission means for reporting service request so as to automatically send, to outside, a reporting data for requesting a service to find out a cause that has prevented the management terminal from acquiring the response data, and a repair service, when the central management apparatus receives the reporting data for reporting no data acquisition. The transmission of the reporting data can be carried via E-mail.

[0011] The above arrangement, where the management terminal collects and accumulates the response data from each image forming apparatus on the predetermined data collection date or data accumulation date, reduces the number of the communications lines, the communications period, and shortens operation time, such as data processing time of the central management apparatus. Moreover, when no response data is acquired, the reporting data for reporting no data acquisition is automatically sent to the central management apparatus, so that the central management apparatus automatically requests a service department, for example via E-mail as mentioned above, to do the service to find the cause preventing the data acquisition, and the repair service. This makes it possible to solve the problem of no data acquisition in a short time, even when no data is acquired.

[0012] By the way, E-mail is so advantageous, for example, because: its transmission time is relatively short; it is easy to reply E-mail; it is simple to save and reusing E-mail as data; and E-mail can be transmitted or received regardless of a situation of the receiver. Therefore, the advantages of E-mail may be utilized to manage an electronic apparatus, but no method of managing the electronic apparatus, which effectively utilizes the advantages of E-mail for managing an electronic apparatus, has been suggested.

[0013] For example, in the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2707459, E-mail, as a subsidiary means to a facsimile apparatus, is utilized for informing a result of transmission and reception that has been performed by the facsimile apparatus, that is, simply for sending to a personal computer the result of the transmission and reception performed by the facsimile apparatus.

[0014] Similarly, in the technology disclosed in Japanese Un-Examined Patent Application, Tokukai, No. 2000-181302, E-mail is used only for communications between a central management apparatus and the service department. In other words, E-mail is used only when caused is a trouble such as no data is acquired.

[0015] Therefore, in the technologies disclosed in those applications and Publications, E-mail does not play a principal role for managing the electronic apparatus. Thus, it cannot be the that those applications utilize E-mail effectively.

[0016] Furthermore, even when E-mail is used, there is no significant difference between a conventional management method without using E-mail and the management method in which E-mail is used, if the use of E-mail is limited to simple transmission of information. Besides those advantages mentioned above, E-mail has another advantage that E-mail realizes a fast and sure communications with a remote location. Therefore, it is expected that E-mail can be utilized in a management system for a sure management of an electronic apparatus at a remote location. However, simple use of E-mail cannot realize such remote management system.

[0017] A For example, where a management system is provided with the image forming apparatus as the electronic apparatus so as to send an E-mail from the image forming id apparatus to a manager (a service provider), the manager receives such an E-mail message for telling “no paper” or “no toner”, from the image forming apparatus. In this way, the manager can supply paper or toner in accordance with the notice, or can manage consumptive goods such as paper or toner so that he can place an order for the consumptive goods (for example, by telephone), if necessary in accordance with the notice. In this case, however, the use of E-mail makes no significant improvement, thereby failing to make a significant difference from the conventional management method or management system.

[0018] Therefore, even if E-mail is used to communicate in the management system for managing the electronic apparatus, the management system is not a remote management system that enable the service provider to respond (deal with) surely to the needs of the electronic apparatus with much consideration of the needs of the user.

[0019] In addition, in the technology disclosed in Japanese Un-Examined Patent Application, Tokukai, No. 2000-181302, the service is provided only in the case where no response data is acquired from the image forming apparatus. Thus, the service is provided without determining whether the image forming apparatus itself has a problem in terms of maintenance, or the image forming apparatus has a trouble. In short, the main objects of the technology of the application are for reducing the number of the communications lines, the communications period, and the data processing time, but the technology is not for providing a proper service to effectively solve the problem the electronic apparatus has.

[0020] Therefore, the above technologies are inadequate as a management system for the electronic apparatus, such as the image forming apparatus, that is required to provide an intensive service in terms of maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic apparatus that is properly managed by taking full advantage of E-mail, an information communications apparatus that can be linked with the electronic apparatus, a management system and a management method for the electronic apparatus that can manage properly the electronic apparatus.

[0022] In order to attain the foregoing objects, an electronic apparatus of the present invention is provided with (I) an apparatus communications section for transmitting an electronic mail to a predetermined receiving end that is linked with the apparatus communications section via a network, (II) an operation information preparation section, including {circle over (1)} an operation condition checking section for checking operation condition of the specific function after the electronic apparatus is serviced, and {circle over (2)} a preparation section for preparing operation information that indicates the operation condition that has been checked by the operation condition checking section, and (III) a control section (a) for controlling the operation information preparation section so as to prepare the operation information after operation of the specific function is resumed after the provision of the service, and (b) for controlling the apparatus communications section so as to transmit the operation information to the predetermined receiving end.

[0023] Moreover, in order to achieve the forgoing objects, an electronic apparatus of the present invention is provided with (I) an apparatus communications section for transmitting an electronic mail to a predetermined receiving end that is linked with the apparatus communications section via a network, (II) an operation information preparation section, including {circle over (1)} an operation condition checking section for checking operation condition of, as a specific function, a part of the electronic apparatus, which has been renewed, after the renewal of the part, and {circle over (2)} a preparation section for preparing operation information that indicates the operation condition that has been checked by the operation condition checking section, and (III) a control section (a) for controlling the operation information preparation section so as to prepare the operation information after operation of the specific function is resumed after the renewal of the part, and (b) for controlling the apparatus communications section so as to transmit the operation information to the predetermined receiving end.

[0024] In order to achieve the forgoing objects, an electronic apparatus of the present invention, which is capable of expanding its function by an optional unit attached to the electronic apparatus, is provided with (I) an apparatus communications section for transmitting an electronic mail to a predetermined receiving end that is linked with the apparatus communications section via a network, (II) a detecting section for detecting the attachment of the unit, (III) an operation information preparation section, including {circle over (1)} an operation condition checking section for checking operation condition of, as a specific function, a function of the unit, which has been attached, and {circle over (2)} a preparation section for preparing operation information that indicates the operation condition that has been checked by the operation condition checking section, and (IV) a control section (a) for controlling the operation information preparation section so as to prepare the operation information after the attachment of the unit is detected and operation of the specific function is resumed, and (b) for controlling the apparatus communications section so as to transmit the operation information to the predetermined receiving end.

[0025] Those arrangements prepare the operation information in accordance with the operation of the electronic apparatus after the service, the renewal of the part, or the attachment of the unit, so that the control section sends the operation information to a predetermined receiving end by E-mail.

[0026] Thus, if the manager (such as a service center or service personnel), who manages the electronic apparatus, is set as the receiving end for the operation information, this makes it possible (a) to check surely whether the service, the renewal of the part or the attachment of the unit has been appropriately carried out or not, and (b) to respond promptly to a trouble, if any, even after the service, the renewal of the part, and the attachment of the unit, thereby achieving better serviceability.

[0027] Moreover, in case of the arrangement where the operation information is transmitted after the unit is attached, it is possible to use E-mail to inform availability of the electronic apparatus to a user who uses the specific function, when the user is set as the receiving end. This makes it possible to timely give a notice to the user about the expansion of the function of the electronic apparatus so as to effectively encourage the user to utilize the function.

[0028] On the other hand, an information communications apparatus of the present invention, which is capable of being externally connected with an electronic apparatus having a specific function, is provided with (I) a communications section, connected with a network, being capable of transmitting information to a predetermined receiving end by electronic mail, (II) a control section for controlling the transmission of the information in accordance with operation of the electronic apparatus, and (III) an operation information preparation section for preparing operation information that indicates operation condition of the electronic apparatus, wherein the control section (a) controls the operation information preparation section so as to prepare the operation information after operation of the specific function is resumed after the electronic apparatus is serviced, and (b) controls the communications section so as to transmit the operation information to the predetermined receiving end.

[0029] The above arrangement, similar to the electronic apparatus, prepares the operation information in accordance with the operation of the electronic apparatus after the service so that the control section sends the operation information to a predetermined receiving end via E-mail. Therefore, if the manager, who manages the electronic apparatus, is set as the receiving end for the operation information, this makes it possible to check surely whether the service has been appropriately carried out or not, and to respond promptly to a trouble, if any, even after the service, thereby achieving better serviceability.

[0030] For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example where a management system of an electronic apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention is employed for managing a digital composite machine.

[0032]FIG. 2 is an explanatory view illustrating how an operation information is prepared and transmitted and how the service is provided to a user in response, in the management system shown in FIG. 1.

[0033]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example where a management system of an electronic apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention is employed for managing a digital composite machine.

[0034]FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating how an operation information of proper service is prepared and transmitted and how the service is provided to a user in response, in the management system shown in FIG. 3.

[0035]FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating how an operation information of improper service is prepared and transmitted and how the service is provided to a user in response, in the management system shown in FIG. 3.

[0036]FIG. 6 is an explanatory view illustrating how an operation information of improper service is prepared and transmitted, and how the service is provided to a user in response, in the management system for an electronic apparatus of a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0037]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example where a management system for an electronic apparatus of a fourth embodiment of the present invention is employed for managing a digital composite machine.

[0038]FIG. 8(a) is an explanatory view illustrating an operation panel when an operation information by self-diagnosis is prepared in advance as operation information, while

[0039]FIG. 8 (b) is an explanatory view showing an operation panel when prepared as an operation information is an operation information is prepared by a user who has judged a result of service.

[0040]FIG. 9 is a block diagram where a management system of an electronic apparatus of a fifth embodiment of the present invention is employed for managing a digital composite machine.

[0041]FIG. 10 is an explanatory view illustrating how an operation information is prepared and transmitted, and how service is provided to a user in response, in the management system shown in FIG. 9.

[0042]FIG. 11 is an explanatory view illustrating how an operation information is prepared and transmitted, and how service is provided to a user in response, in a management system for an electronic apparatus in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0043]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example where a management system for an electronic apparatus of a seventh embodiment of the present invention is employed for managing a digital composite machine.

[0044]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing main configuration of an information management apparatus in the management system for the electronic apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0045]FIG. 14 is an explanatory view illustrating how an operation information is prepared and transmitted, and how service is provided to a user in response, in the management system for the electronic apparatus of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0046]FIG. 15 is an explanatory view illustrating jam frequency log stored in a memory of a digital composite machine in a management system for an electronic apparatus of a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

[0047]FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing the jam frequency log when more than one trouble is caused in the management system for the electronic apparatus.

[0048]FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example where a management system for an electronic apparatus of a tenth embodiment of the present invention is employed for managing a digital composite machine.

[0049]FIG. 18 is an explanatory view illustrating a receiving end for a printer trouble. The explanatory view is stored in a memory of the digital composite machine in the management system for the electronic apparatus.

[0050]FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing an example where a management system for an electronic apparatus of an eleventh embodiment of the present invention is employed for managing a digital composite machine. In FIG. 19, illustrated are units capable of being attached to a digital composite machine main body, and notices for attachment of each unit.

[0051]FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an example where the management system for the electronic apparatus is employed for managing the digital composite machine.

[0052]FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing how operation information is prepared and transmitted when a printer board is attached to the digital composite machine main body.

[0053]FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing how operation condition is notified and how operation information is prepared and transmitted, when an automatic document feeder is attached to the digital composite machine main body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0054] [FIRST EMBODIMENT]

[0055] Described below is a first embodiment of the present invention, with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. Note that, present invention is not limited to the first embodiment.

[0056] In a management system of the electronic apparatus of the present invention, operation information, which is for showing how good the operation of the electronic apparatus is, that is, an operation condition of the electronic apparatus, is prepared upon resuming a specific function of the electronic apparatus after service is completed for the electronic apparatus. Then, the operations information is sent to a predetermined receiving end. On the other hand, the predetermined receiving end uses the operation information, at least, as a judgement reference for judging whether further service is required or not. This further ensures the management of the operation of the electronic apparatus, thereby improving the serviceability in terms of the service.

[0057] In the present embodiment, an explanation is provided with reference to an image forming apparatus of a digital composite type as an example of electronic apparatuses that has a specific function in which the management system of the present invention for the electronic apparatus. The image forming apparatus of the digital composite type has at least two or more operation modes, for example, two out of copy mode, facsimile mode and printer mode. Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus is referred to as a digital composite machine. In other words, in the present embodiment, the present invention is discussed in detail with an example of a management system for the digital composite machine.

[0058] The image forming apparatus frequently has troubles such as deterioration of an image, or jam of sheet (paper jam), while the image forming apparatus requires management of consumptive goods, such as toner. Therefore, the management system of the present invention is especially suitable for the image forming apparatus that thus requires an intensive service.

[0059] The management system of the present invention for the digital composite machine (hereinafter, referred to Adjust as management system) is provided with the digital composite machine 1, an information management apparatus 4, and a service personnel information terminal 2 (hereinafter, denoted as an S information terminal), as shown in FIG. 1. The information management apparatus 4 and the service personnel information terminal 2 are connected via a network 3 with the digital composite machine 1. The information management apparatus 4 is a primary receiving end, while the S information terminal 2 is a secondary receiving end. The management system may be provided with only one S information terminal 2, but plural S information terminals (three of them are provided in FIG. 1) are provided in the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 1.

[0060] Moreover, the digital composite machine 1 is provides with a built-in information communications section (information communications means) 10, which connects the digital composite machine 1 to the network 3, such as Internet.

[0061] The information communications section 10, which is connected with the network 3, is provided with an E-mail communications section (machine communications means; notifying means; trouble notifying means) 11, a control section (control means) 12, a memory (storing means) 14, and a counter (counting means) 16. The E-mail communications section 11 transmits information to a predetermined receiving end via E-mail, while the control section 12 controls the E-mail transmission in accordance with operation of an image forming section of the digital composite machine 1.

[0062] The E-mail communications section 11 transmits machinery information, which will be discussed later, to a predetermined receiving end (the information management apparatus 4) via E-mail. The control section 12 control the E-mail transmission of operation information, which has been inputted via an operation panel 21, to the predetermined receiving end (the information management apparatus 4) as discussed later, while controlling operation of the whole digital composite machine 1, as a machine control section. In short, in the present embodiment, the control section 12 controls not only the information communications section 10, but also controls, as a machine control section, the operation of the whole digital composite machine 1.

[0063] In the memory 14, stored are various pieces of information on the control for the preparation of the machine information and the control of the E-mail transmission. The counter 16 counts up how many times the image forming section 20 forms an image.

[0064] On the other hand, the digital composite machine 1 is provided with various means and sections, including the image forming section 20, for letting the digital An composite machine 1 function as an image forming apparatus. In FIG. 1, for convenience of the explanation, only the image forming section 20 and the operation panel 21 are shown. However, needless to say, the digital composite machine 1 is not limited to this arrangement, and may include various means and sections provided in well-known image forming apparatuses.

[0065] The operation panel 21 is provided with a hard key section 21 a and a display panel 21 b. The hard key section 21 a and the display panel 21 b are connected with the image forming section 20 and the information communications section 10 (the control section 12) so as to perform various input operation in regard of the operation of the digital composite machine 1. Especially, the operation panel 21 is, as discussed later, capable of receiving the operation information that shows the operation condition of the digital composite machine 1. For this reason, in the present invention, the operation panel 21 is not merely input means, but functions as operation information preparation means (an operation condition checking section and preparation means) that prepares the operation information in accordance with the input of the operation information on the operation condition of the digital composition machine 1.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 2, the hard key section 21 a is structured with ten key for numbers and other keys (such as a start key and a clear key) so that various information can be inputted in by typing those keys.

[0067] The display panel 21 b can display various information regarding the input operation and the E-mail transmission in accordance with the control by the control section 12, while the display panel 21 b can be used as input means as well as the display means because the display panel 21 b is a touch panel. In other words, the display panel 21 b can display a key that is operative on the display (denoted as a soft key, hereinafter) so that various information can be inputted by operating the soft key. Meanwhile, the display panel 21 b functions as the notifying means and the trouble notifying means that notify the user, who has brought himself to the place where the digital composite machine 1 is installed, whether a function of the digital composite machine 1 operates normally.

[0068] It should be noted that, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment where the operation information preparation means is the operation panel 21 provided with the hard key section 21 a and the display panel 21 b, but may include other means apart from the operation panel 21.

[0069] With the information management apparatus 4, it is possible to transmit the information by E-mail via the network 3 to the S information terminals 2 as the secondary receiving ends. Specifically, the information management apparatus 4 receives the operation information transmitted from the digital composite machine 1, while an instructions information is prepared based on the operation information, so that the instruction information is transmitted to the S information terminals 2 by E-mail.

[0070] In the present embodiment, the operation information, which has been transmitted from the digital composite machine 1, regards the operation condition of the digital composite machine 1 as a result of the service (support and maintenance), that is, a service result. Moreover, upon the receipt of the service result, the information management apparatus 4 transmits instructions for redoing service as the instructions information, to instruct a predetermined S information terminal 2 to redo the service, based on what the service result says.

[0071] Note that, in FIG. 1, a bold chain line indicates a transmission path of an E-mail transmitted via the network 3, while a bold dotted-line arrow indicates an output path of the operation information. A thin-line arrow shows an output path of control information regarding the operation control of the digital composite machine 1 (including the display information regarding the display of the display panel 21 b, and a counting result of a number of times of the image forming operation by the counter 16).

[0072] For example as shown in FIG. 13, the information management apparatus 4 is provided with a communications section 41, a clock 42, a communications management section 43, and a control section 44 and an instructions information preparation section 45. The communications section 41 transmits and receives the E-mail via the network 3. The clock 42 is used for acquiring time and date of time, for example, when the E-mail is transmitted and received. In the communications management section 43, stored is information regarding the communications between the communications management section 43 and the digital composite machine 1 or the S information terminal 2, such as (a) the operation information that has been received from the digital composite machine 1 by E-mail, (b) the instructions information that has been transmitted to the S information terminal 2 by E-mail, and (c) history of previous services or addresses of the digital composite machine 1 and the S information terminals 2, while the control section 44 controls the communications management section 43 so as to store the information regarding the communications, in accordance with the E-mail received at the communications section 41. The instruction information preparation section 45 prepares the instruction information for the S information terminals 2, in accordance with the instructions given by the control section 44 with reference to the communications management section 43. Moreover, the information control apparatus 4 is provided with a memory 46 and an input section 47. The memory 46 is used as, for example, an operation region when the control section 44 is in operation, while the input section 47 receives instructions given by a user of the information management apparatus 4. This enables the information management apparatus 4 to instruct the S information terminals 2 so as to provide an appropriate service to the digital composite machine 1, in accordance with the operation information from the digital composite machine 1.

[0073] The management system of the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of the digital composite machines 1 in plural zones. The digital composite machine 1 is installed at a place of the user (customer) as a result of purchase or lease. Note that, in FIGS. 1 and 2, for convenience of the explanation, only one digital composite machine 1 is shown, but in reality there are plural users respectively having the digital composite 1 that is connected to the network 3.

[0074] On the other hand, the information management apparatus 4 and the plural S information terminals 2 are associated with a service department for maintenance and other service of the digital composite machine 1, for example in FIG. 2, a service center 200, as the primary receiving end. The information management apparatus 4 is installed in the service center 200, while the S information terminals 2 are various information terminals (such as a notebook computer, or a portable information terminal) respectively carried by each service personnel.

[0075] In the present invention, the control section 12 controls the E-mail communications section 11 to transmit the service result to the information management apparatus 4, upon the preparation of the service result as the operation information after the image forming operation by the image forming section 20 is resumed after the digital composite machine 1 has been serviced (supported or maintained).

[0076] In this way, transmitted to the information management apparatus 4 by E-mail after the service is the operation information that indicates the operation condition of the digital composite machine 1, for example, whether the image forming operation of the digital composite machine 1 is operated in an appropriate operation condition level, whether the digital composite machine 1 operates in an appropriate condition, or whether the digital composite machine 1 operates after the digital composite machine 1 is operated for a predetermined period.

[0077] The information management apparatus 4 is installed in the service center 200 (the manager) for managing the digital composite machine 1. Therefore, it is possible to surely check whether or not the service fully restores the functions of the digital composite machine 1, or whether or not the service is appropriate. In addition, in case there is still a trouble, this allows to respond quickly to the trouble, thereby improving the serviceability.

[0078] It should be noted that, in the present invention, the service (maintenance) includes a repair, a check, renewal of the consumptive goods and renewable parts for the digital composite machine 1 (electronic apparatus). Thus, in the present invention, the service includes those operations, namely: the repair of the electronic apparatus that has broken down, the check carried out regularly even if no trouble occurs, and an renewal of the consumptive goods, such as the toner, and the renewable parts. Moreover, the renewal may be renewal of a unit to expand the functions of the electronic apparatus, or renewal of a part composing the electronic apparatus or a unit of the electronic apparatus. Further, the service includes the expansion of the functions of the electronic apparatus by an addition of a unit. Of course, other types of operation may be included in the service, depending on a type of the electronic apparatus.

[0079] Next, a management system and a management method for the digital composite machine 1 of the present embodiment are explained below.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 2, when the digital composite machine 1 has a trouble, or it is time to do maintenance of the digital composite machine 1 (maintenance time), firstly {circle over (1)} the digital composite machine 1 sends a service request (for example, a request for a repair or a request for a check) to the service center 200. The service request may be made by E-mail by the E-mail communications section 11 provided in the digital composite machine 1 or by a user by telephone or by facsimile.

[0081] After the receipt of the service request, the service center 200 {circle over (2)} transmits by E-mail service instructions to an S information terminal 2 that is carried by a service personnel who is in charge of the digital composite machine 1, so as to instruct the service personnel to do service for the digital composite machine 1 that has sent the request.

[0082] In an example shown in FIG. 2, the service personnel is on the road, driving a service car (an automobile for service) in his sales area. Therefore, {circle over (3)} the service personnel visits the user by the service car and provides various services for the digital composite machine 1 that requests the services, such as the repair, check and renewal of the consumptive goods. Note that, in FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, the service car is numbered as 2, which is the reference number of the S information terminal 2.

[0083] After that, {circle over (4)} the display panel 21 b of the operation panel 21 displays a question for confirming the result of the service so that the user can answer whether or not a specific function (here, it is an image forming operation) is adequate (appropriate, or in order).

[0084] The user, after confirming the display, operates the operation panel 21 so as to input operation condition whether or not the image forming operation is adequate. As a result, a support result is prepared as the operation information of the image forming operation. The control section 12 controls the E-mail communications section 11 to make the information management apparatus 4 to transmit the thus prepared service result. In this manner, {circle over (5)} the service center 200 is notified of the service result judged by the user.

[0085] The service center 200 decides what to do next in accordance with what the service result says. In other words, if the support result says the image forming operation is adequate (appropriate, in order), it is judged that the user satisfies the service provided by the service personnel. Therefore, the information management apparatus 4 {circle over (7)} charges the user a cost of the service (accounting).

[0086] On the hands, if the service result says the image forming operation is still inadequate (inappropriate, or out of order), it indicates that the user is not satisfied with the service. Therefore, {circle over (6)} the information management apparatus 4 selects the service personnel in charge or another service personnel in some cases, so as to transmit instructions for redoing service by E-mail to the S information terminal 2 of the thus selected service personnel so as to instruct the service personnel to redo the service. Then, the service personnel visits the user again to redo the service for the digital composite machine 1 (the second visit is not shown here).

[0087] Note that, for Step {circle over (6)}, there are some cases no service personnel needs to be dispatched to the user. For example, the trouble of the digital composite machine 1 is solved while there is still a miner trouble to fix by adjustment, it is possible to solve the miner trouble by a remote operation by the service center 200 via the network 3, or by giving advice to the user, for example, by telephone. Therefore, the instructions for redoing service (the step {circle over (6)}) is not limited to the dispatch of the service personnel.

[0088] As to Steps {circle over (4)} through {circle over (5)}, the display contents displayed on the display panel 21 b of the operation panel 21 is not limited to a specific arrangement. For example, it may display an alternative question by means of the soft keys (touch keys) where or not the image forming operation is adequate or inadequate. This makes it easier for the user to select an answer; whether the operation condition of the image forming operation is adequate or inadequate.

[0089] Specifically, for example as shown in FIG. 2, a message “How is the operation after the service?” is displayed on the display panel 21 b of the operation panel 21 of the digital composite machine 1 that has been serviced, while soft keys “Good” and “Bad” are displayed as the display to answer (input) whether the image forming operation is adequate (good) or inadequate (Bad), by means of the touch panel functions of the display panel 21 b.

[0090] After confirming the display, the user may press (operate) the soft key for “Good” if the user judges the digital composite machine 1 works adequately and without a trouble. On the contrary, if the user judges the digital composite machine 1 is inadequate, the user may press (operate) the soft key for “Bad”. In accordance with which soft key is pressed (or the operation of the soft keys), prepared is the operation information whether the image forming operation is good (adequate) or bad (inadequate).

[0091] Furthermore, it is preferable in the present invention that the operation panel 21 displays the display for inputting the service result in accordance with the operation condition of the image forming operation that has been carried out until a specific condition set in advance is satisfied.

[0092] Right after the completion of the service, it is hard to clearly judge whether the digital composite machine 1 operates really adequately and without a trouble. Therefore, the specific condition may be set in advance so that the image forming operation is carried out until the specific condition is satisfied, so as to make a judgement on the operation condition of the digital composite machine 1 thereafter. This makes it possible to prepare operation information (a service result) that grasps the operation condition more precisely. Therefore, it is possible to provide more suitable service to the user.

[0093] The specific condition is not limited to a particular condition, but in the present embodiment, for example, a number of times of the use of the digital composite machine 1 after the service, that is, how many times the image forming operation is carried out after the service.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 1, the digital composite machine 1 is provided with the counter 16 that counts up how many times the image forming section 20 carries out the image forming operation (see the arrow pointing at the image forming section 20 from a position of the counter 16). Thus, the control section 12 sets in advance a specific number of times of the image forming operation, and controls the counter 16 to count up the number of times of the image forming operation carried out since the image forming operation by the digital composite machine 1 is resumed after the completion of the service, so that the message as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display panel 21 b, when the counting result reaches the specific number of times.

[0095] Specifically, where the counter 16 counts up one time of the image forming operation as 1 job, the specific number of times is set at N job (a specific numerical value, such as N=100). Then the control section 12 judges whether or not the counting result x job, which is obtained by the counter 16 counting the image forming operation, reaches the specific number of times N job (that is, x=N).

[0096] Then, at the time when the counter 16 obtains the counting result x job of the image forming operation that reaches the specific number of times N job, the display panel 21 b of the operation panel 21 displays a message for confirming the result of service so as to ask the user whether or not the operation condition of the image forming operation is adequate since the completion of the service. In this manner, it is possible to prepare operation information (service result) that more precisely grasps the operation condition of the image forming operation.

[0097] Note that, it is preferable that it is possible to change the specific numerical value, such as the specific number of times N job as the specific condition, by operating the operation panel 21, for example. Depending on how the digital composite machine 1 is used, it is not constant how frequently the digital composite machine 1 is used. Therefore, it is arranged that the numerical value is altered considering how the user uses the digital composite machine 1. This makes it possible to prepare the operation information more surely, thereby more promptly responding to troubles.

[0098] In this manner, the present embodiment makes the user confirm whether or not the digital composite machine 1 is restored by the service, and whether or not the appropriate service is provided. Therefore, it is possible to promptly respond to a trouble after the service is provided, thereby improving the serviceability. Moreover, because the cost of the service is charged only if the digital composite machine 1 is surely serviced, the cost is charged in a manner clear for both the manager and the user.

[0099] Note that, in the present embodiment, the information management apparatus 4 is set as the primary receiving end, while the S information terminals 2 are set as the secondary receiving end, so that the information management apparatus 4 functions as a gateway for receiving the operation information from the digital composite machine 1 to transmit the service instructions to the S information terminals 2 by E-mail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above arrangement.

[0100] For example, if provided is a single S information terminal 2, but not the plurality of the single S information terminals 2, the digital composite machine 1 may transmit the service request or the service result directly to the S information terminal 2 by E-mail, without intermediation by the information management apparatus 4. In short, the management system of the present invention may not include the information management apparatus 4.

[0101] Moreover, the management system of the present invention may be so arranged that the digital composite machine 1 directly sends the E-mail to the S information terminal 2 even though the information management apparatus 4 is included in the arrangement. For example, in Step {circle over (5)}, the S information terminal 2 may be the receiving end for the service result judged by the user.

[0102] However, even if the service result is directly transmitted to the S information terminal 2, it is preferable that the service is managed by the service center 200(that is the information management apparatus 4). Therefore, for example, it may be arranged that the digital composite machine 1 transmits the service result to the S information terminal 2 and the information management apparatus 4 at the same time, or the service result is forwarded to the information management apparatus 4 from the S information terminal 2 that has received the service result.

[0103] [SECOND EMBODIMENT]

[0104] Discussed below is a second embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. Note that, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. In addition, for convenience of the explanation, sections having identical functions as the sections used in the first embodiment are labelled in the same fashion, and explanation of them is omitted.

[0105] While the first embodiment employs the operation panel 21 as the operation information preparation means so that the user can operate the operation panel 21 so as to confirm the service result (the operation condition) after the service, the present embodiment has such an arrangement that a self-diagnosis section (self-diagnosis means) 13 as the operation information preparation means (the operation condition checking section and the preparation section), instead of the operation panel 21. The self-diagnosis section 13 diagnoses, by itself, the condition of a digital composite machine 1, and prepares a result of the self-diagnosis as operation information.

[0106] In other words, a management system of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, has an arrangement basically identical with the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 for the first embodiment, but further includes the self-diagnosis section 13 in an information communications section 10. Note that, the operation information is not outputted from an operation panel 21 in the present embodiment, as indicated by absence of the bold dotted-line arrow from the operation panel 21 to the control section 12, compared with FIG. 1. Meanwhile, as the other parts of the arrangement of the present embodiment is identical with that of the first embodiment, a detail explanation of the other parts is omitted here.

[0107] The self-diagnosis section 13 at least diagnoses the condition of an image forming section 20 so as to prepare the self-diagnosis result, while a control section 12 controls the self-diagnosis section 13 to prepare the self-diagnosis result (the operation information) after the service so that the self-diagnosis result is transmitted by E-mail to an information management apparatus 4 as a primary receiving end. Of course, the control section 12 controls the whole operation of a digital composite machine 1, as the first embodiment.

[0108] In the following, explained is the management system and a management method for the digital composite machine 1 of the present embodiment.

[0109] As shown in FIG. 4, in case the digital composite machine 1 has a trouble, or a time for maintenance has come for the digital composite machine 1, steps similar to those in the first embodiment are carried out. {circle over (1)} The digital composite machine 1 sends a service request to a service center 200, then {circle over (2)} the service center 200 transmits service instructions by E-mail to an S information terminal 2 that is carried by a service personnel, so that {circle over (3)} the service personnel visits a user of the digital composite machine 1 by a service car for doing various services for the digital composite machine 1 requesting the services. Until Step {circle over (3)}, the procedure is identical with that of the first embodiment.

[0110] Further, in the present embodiment, the control section 12 controls the self-diagnosis section 13 to diagnose the condition of the digital composite machine 1. Then, {circle over (4)} the self-diagnosis section 13 diagnoses to check whether or not the image forming operation is carried out normally, so as to check whether the service is adequate or not. Thereafter, the thus obtained self-diagnosis result is displayed on a display panel 21 b of the operation panel 21, while {circle over (5)} the service center 200 is notified of the self-diagnosis result via E-mail.

[0111] The service center 200 decides what to do next, in accordance with the self-diagnosis result. Thus, if the self-diagnosis result says the service is satisfactory, it is judged that the user is satisfied with the service. Therefore, {circle over (7)} the information management apparatus 4 of the service center 200 charges the user a cost of the service.

[0112] On the other hand, if the self-diagnosis result says the service is unsatisfactory, it indicates that the service is inadequate and the user is not satisfied with the service. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, {circle over (6)} for example, the service personnel is instructed by E-mail, to redo the service (service redoing instructions). Thus, the service personnel visits the user again for redoing the service.

[0113] In Steps {circle over (4)} to {circle over (5)}, a display message displayed on the display panel 21 b of the operation panel 21 is not limited to a particular one, provided that at least the self-diagnosis result can be understood in outline.

[0114] For example, if the self-diagnosis result given by the self-diagnosis section 13 says “Good”, the display panel 21 b displays a message “the condition after service was checked. GOOD CONDITION”, as shown in FIG. 4. After this, {circle over (5)} an E-mail communications section 11 transmits the self-diagnosis result of “Good” (the condition is adequate) to the service center 200. Then, {circle over (7)} the service center 200 charges the user the cost of the service.

[0115] On the other hand, if the self-diagnosis result says “Bad”, the display panel 21 b displays a message “The condition after service was checked. The service center is contacted again.”, as shown in FIG. 5. Then, the E-mail communications section 11 transmits the self-diagnosis result of “Bad” (the condition is inadequate) to the service center 200, so that {circle over (6)} the service center 200 instructs the service personnel to redo the service.

[0116] similarly to the first embodiment, it is preferable again in the present embodiment that displayed is a message to input the service result in accordance with the operation condition of the image forming operation that has been carried out until a specific condition predetermined in advance is satisfied. In short, it is preferable that the self-diagnosis section 13 diagnosis when the specific condition predetermined is satisfied after the service is completed.

[0117] The specific condition is not limited, but just like the first embodiment, a preferable example is a number of times of use of the digital composite machine 1 after the service, that is, how many times the image forming operation is carried out after the service. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a counter 16 is provided for counting how many times the image forming operation is carried out (x job). The number of times (x job) of the image forming operation is compared with the specific number of time (N job) predetermined in advance, so that the self-diagnosis section 13 diagnoses when the specific number of times is reached (x=N).

[0118] A specific example is provided here, where the digital composite machine 1 is provided with plural paper tray for feeding sheet, assuming that a second paper tray from the top has a paper jam when a sheet is fed from the second paper tray. It is assumed that the paper jam has been solved once by a service personnel who has provided various services to solve troubles that had caused the paper jam (Steps {circle over (1)} to {circle over (3)}).

[0119] After that, the self-diagnosis section 13 diagnoses whether or not the sheet is normally fed from the second paper tray in a period of time while the counting result x job by the counter 16 reaches the N job. If no paper jam is caused until the N job is reached, the display panel 21 b displays the message “The condition after service was checked. GOOD CONDITION”, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0120] On the other hand, if paper jam is caused before the N job is reached, the display panel 21 b displays the message “The condition after service was checked. The service department is contacted again.”, as shown in FIG. 5. Further, the service center 200 is notified of the self-diagnosis result so that the service center 200 decides what to do next in accordance with the self-diagnosis result, as discussed previously.

[0121] Note that, in case the self-diagnosis section 13 is provided so as to make all the judgement automatically, as in the present embodiment, the control section 12 may be so arranged that the control section 12 temporarily stops operation of a section of an electronic apparatus that causes the improper operation condition.

[0122] For example, in case the self-diagnosis section 13 prepares operation information that indicates the operation condition of the digital composite machine 1 is inadequate (the second paper tray has the paper jam), the control section 12 stops the second paper tray temporarily to feed the sheet, while controlling the E-mail communications section 11 to transmit the operation information to the service center 200.

[0123] If the operation condition of the second paper tray is still inadequate even after the service is done, it is necessary to redo the service. Therefore, it is possible to suppress problems that are consequently caused, by stopping the second paper tray to feed the sheet at the same time when the operation information is transmitted to the service center 200. The problems, which are consequently caused, are for example, the trouble of the second paper tray gets more severe, or the trouble of the second paper tray adversely affects other sections.

[0124] In this way, the present embodiment makes the self-diagnosis section 13 to diagnose whether or not the service restores the digital composite machine 1 to function satisfactorily, and whether or not the service is adequate. This makes it possible to promptly respond to unsolved trouble or newly caused trouble after the service is done, thereby improving the serviceability.

[0125] Moreover, because the cost of the service is charged only if the adequate service is provided, it is possible to charge the cost in a manner that is clear to both the manager and the user.

[0126] [THIRD EMBODIMENT]

[0127] Described below is a third embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIG. 6. Note that, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. Moreover, sections identical with those used in any of the first and the second embodiments are labelled in the same manner, and explanation of them is omitted here.

[0128] On contrary to the first and the second embodiments where the service center 200 is notified of the operation information by E-mail irrespective of what is said in the judgement of the user or the self-diagnosis result (whether or not the service is adequate or inadequate), the present embodiment has such an arrangement in which a control section 12 controls an E-mail communications section 11 to transmit the operation information to a service center 200, only when prepared is operation information to inform that operation condition of a digital composite machine 1 is inadequate.

[0129] For example, two types of contracts for the service of the digital composite machine 1 may be offered: a full service contract with a fixed rate that includes all services at the fixed rate, and a spot service contract with a variable rate that provides services when necessary and charges a cost of the services each time. The first and the second embodiments are the spot service contracts, because the cost is charged for each trouble. However, the full service contract does not charge for each trouble. In other words, Step {circle over (7)} is unnecessary for the full service contract. In this case, Step {circle over (5)}, in which the digital composite machine 1 notifies the service result, is unnecessary when the service result is good. Therefore, in the present invention, Step {circle over (5)} is carried out only when a trouble occurs.

[0130] Specifically, when a trouble is caused, as shown in FIG. 6, Steps {circle over (1)} to {circle over (3)} are carried out, just like the cases in the first and the second embodiments.

[0131] After that, for example as shown in FIG. 6, {circle over (4)} operation information is prepared in a manner identical with that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, where the message “How is the operation after the service?” and the soft keys “Good” and “Bad” on a display panel 21 b of an operation panel 21 of a digital composite machine 1 that has been serviced, so that a user judges the result of the service. Alternatively, in Step {circle over (4)}, the operation information is prepared by diagnosing the result of the service automatically by the self-diagnosis section 13 (this is not shown in FIG. 6) as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the second embodiment.

[0132] In case the thus prepared operation information says the operation condition is inadequate, for example as shown in FIG. 6, a soft key of “Bad” is pressed (refer to the first embodiment), or the self-diagnosis result says the trouble is caused (the second embodiment), {circle over (5)} the service center 200 is notified of the operation information by E-mail. On the other hand, in case prepared is operation information of “Good”, Step {circle over (5)} is not carried out.

[0133] Because the service center 200 receives by E-mail only the operation information to tell the operation condition is inadequate (the service result is “Bad”) as shown in FIG. 6, {circle over (6)} an information management apparatus 4 of the service center 200 instructs, for example, a service personnel to redo the service. Therefore, Step {circle over (7)} is not carried out, on contrary to the first and the second embodiments.

[0134] As discussed above, no more service is necessary when the operation is adequate, while additional service is needed if the operation is inadequate. Thus, the service center 200 is notified of the condition of the digital composite machine 1 only when the additional service is necessary, that is, the operation condition is inadequate. This makes it possible to respond promptly to a trouble, thereby further improving the serviceability.

[0135] [FOURTH EMBODIMENT]

[0136] Explained below is a fourth embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8(b). It should be noted that, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. Moreover, for convenience of explanation, sections identical with those used in any of the first, second and third embodiments are labelled in the same manner, and explanation of them is omitted here.

[0137] The present embodiment has such an arrangement in which those of the first and second embodiment are combined together, that is, plural pieces of operation information are prepared.

[0138] In short, as shown in FIG. 7, a management system of the present embodiment has the arrangement that is basically identical with that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, but the operation information is outputted to a control section 12, not only from a self-diagnosis section 13, but also by an operation panel 21 (see bold dotted-lined arrow in FIG. 7). Note that, other parts of the arrangement are identical with the arrangements of the first and second embodiments, thus a detailed explanation of the parts is omitted here.

[0139] Next, explained is the management system and a management method for the digital composite machine 1 of the present embodiment. To begin with, similarly to the cases of the first to third embodiments, a trouble is caused and Steps {circle over (1)} through {circle over (3)} are carried out.

[0140] After that, {circle over (4)} the operation information is prepared by the self-diagnosis and the user's judgement on the service result. For example, as shown in FIG. 8(a), a display panel 21 b of the operation panel 21 of the digital composite machine 1, which has been serviced, displays a massage “Self-diagnosis checked the condition after the service. GOOD CONDITION”, thereby indicating the outline of the self-diagnosis result, as Step {circle over (4)} of the second embodiment. Then, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), displayed are a message “How is the operation after the service?” and soft keys “Good” and “Bad” on the display panel 21 b.

[0141] In other words, if the user judges the operation is inadequate while the self-diagnosis result is good, a further service is required. Therefore, when the user presses the soft key of “Bad” so as to prepare the service result to indicate the operation condition is inadequate, the user's judgement takes priority. Therefore, {circle over (5)} the service center 200 is notified of the operation information by E-mail. Note that, the following Steps {circle over (6)} and {circle over (7)} are same as those of the respective forgoing embodiments.

[0142] In this manner, the service center 200 can make more appropriate decision on what to do next, because both the service results prepared by the user's judgement and the self-diagnosis result are used as the operation information.

[0143] Noted that, in the above example, the self-diagnosis is carried out first, then the user judges the service result next. But it may be possible to have an inverse order in which the user's judgement is first and the self-diagnosis is second. For example, the soft keys as shown in FIG. 8(b) may be displayed first, then the self-diagnosis result as shown in FIG. 8(a) is displayed next.

[0144] In this case, it is preferable that user's judgement for “Bad” service result is surely given priority and the user's judgement is transmitted to the service center 200 as the operation information. On the other hand, even if the user judges the service result is “Good”, the self-diagnosis may find a trouble. In this case, it is preferable that the self-diagnosis result takes priority and is transmitted to the service center 200 as the operation information.

[0145] In this way, it is so arranged that, when the user judges the image forming operation is inadequate, the user's judgement is surely given priority, while the self diagnosis result takes priority if the self-diagnosis is inadequate even if the user judges the image forming operation is adequate. The above arrangement of the priority of the operation information further improves the reliability of the service, since a worst case is taken in consideration.

[0146] [FIFTH EMBODIMENT]

[0147] Described below is a fifth embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. For convenience of explanation, sections identical with those used in any of the first to fourth embodiments are labelled in the same fashion, and explanation of them is omitted here.

[0148] In the first through fourth embodiments, it is arranged that counter 16 is used to count the predetermined number of times, N job, of the image forming operation as the predetermined specific condition to be used as the reference to tell the timing to prepare the operation information. Meanwhile, the present embodiment uses a time obtained by a timer as the specific condition.

[0149] A management system of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, has an arrangement that is basically identical with that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, except that an information communications section 10 is provided with a timer (timing means) 15, as well as the counter 16. Note that, since other parts of the arrangement is identical with those of the first and the second embodiments, a detailed explanation of them is omitted here.

[0150] The timer 15 is for measuring time. Notification of the service result, which is controlled by a control section 12, is carried out based on the time obtained by the timer 15. In the present embodiment, as the second embodiment, explained is an example where the information communications section 10 is provided with a self-diagnosis section 13. Thus, the control section 12 refers to the time obtained by the timer 15, and decides the timing when the self-diagnosis section 13 carries out self-diagnosis.

[0151] The present embodiment may, of course, utilize the timer 15 for deciding timing to display soft keys on a display panel 21 b, similarly to the first embodiment, or may utilize the counting result by the counter 16, together with the time obtained by the timer 15, for timing to carry out the self-diagnosis or the display of the soft keys, similarly to each of the forgoing embodiments.

[0152] In the first through fourth embodiments, the number of times of the image forming operation is counted by the counter 16 and a period until the specific number of times, N job, is reached is a period for judging whether the service result is good or bad. Thus, when the counting result x job reaches the predetermined number of times, N job (x=N), the self-diagnosis result is prepared regarding the operation condition of the image forming operation that has been carried out in the period.

[0153] However, for example, when the N job is 100 jobs (N=100), a user who photocopies or prints out frequently and/or in a large quantity can achieve the 100 jobs for the counting result x job in a short time so as to make the judgement on the service result. Meanwhile, for example, for a user who makes only one or a few sheets of photocopy or printout each time he uses the digital composite machine 1, or a user who seldom uses the digital composite machine 1, it takes a very long time to achieve the 100 jobs for the x job.

[0154] Therefore, the time shown in FIG. 9 is used so as to set the specific period, N time, in advance so that the operation information is prepared at a time when x time, which is time measured by the timer 15, reaches the predetermined N time.

[0155] Next, explained is the management system and a management method for the digital composite machine 1 of the present embodiment. To begin with, similarly to the first through third embodiment, a trouble is caused and Steps {circle over (1)} to {circle over (3)} are carried out, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0156] After that, the image forming operation is resumed after the service for the digital composite machine 1 is completed. When the image forming operation is resumed, the timer 15 starts measuring the time. In this case, predetermined is the N time so that {circle over (4)} the self-diagnosis section 13 diagnosis the digital composite machine 1 when the x time measured by the timer 15 reaches the specific N time.

[0157] Thereafter, {circle over (5)} a service center 200 is notified of the self-diagnosis result as the service result, so that, in accordance with the service result, {circle over (6)} the service center 200 instructs a service personnel to redo the service, or {circle over (7)} the service center 200 charges a user a cost of the service.

[0158] Note that, it is preferable that the specific numerical value of the predetermined N time is also changeable, as the predetermined N job. As explained in the first embodiment, depending how the digital composite machine 1 is used, frequency or a period of the use of the digital composite machine 1 is different. Therefore, it is arranged that the numerical value can be altered depending how the user uses the digital composite machine 1. This further ensures the preparation of the operation information, thereby being able to more promptly respond to the trouble.

[0159] Note that, in the first to fourth embodiments, {circle over (1)} firstly, the digital composite machine 1 requests the service, then {circle over (2)} the service center 200 transmits the service instructions to the service personnel so as to provide the service to the digital composite machine 1. However, the present invention may be so arranged as no to include Steps {circle over (1)} and {circle over (2)}.

[0160] In other words, the present invention may have such an arrangement that, when the service request, such as a repair, a check, and renewal of consumptive goods, is done by a conventional method, for example, by telephone, Step {circle over (4)} the management method by E-mail is carried out after Step {circle over (3)} for providing service or regular check is performed. In short, the present invention may have any arrangement, provided that Step {circle over (4)} and steps after Step {circle over (4)} are carried out surely in the arrangement.

[0161] [SIXTH EMBODIMENT]

[0162] Described below is a sixth embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIG. 11. Note that, the present invention is not limited to the present invention. In addition, for convenience of explanation, sections identical with those used in any of the first to fifth embodiments are labelled in the same manner, and explanation of them is omitted here.

[0163] On contrary to the first to fifth embodiments where the service center 200 and the service personnel deal with (respond to) the trouble, the present embodiment explain an example where a service center 200 and a service personnel deal with a trouble after a service is provided.

[0164] A management system of the present embodiment has an arrangement similar to those of the first to fifth embodiments, except that a control section 12 requests, by E-mail, the service center 200 to provide a service.

[0165] For example, in case of the arrangement provided with the counter 16 as shown in FIG. 1, 3 or 7, the predetermined number of times, N job, is set as the predetermined specific condition. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, {circle over (1)} the service personnel visits a user and provides a service. Then, the digital composite machine 1 is used as usual until a counting result of a counter 16, x job, reaches N job (in other words, N sheets of photocopy or printout are made). Here, {circle over (2)} automatically, operation information is prepared, and {circle over (3)} the service center 200 is notified of the operation information.

[0166] Depending how often the digital composite machine 1 is used after the service, the digital composite machine 1 may have various troubles. Therefore, in case of the above arrangement where the counter 16 is used for counting how many times the image forming operation is carried out, the operation information is prepared each N job, and transmitted to the service center 200. In this manner, a regular check is provided to the digital composite machine 1 after the service, thereby being able to more promptly respond to a trouble.

[0167] Moreover, regardless of the frequency of the use, various sections may be deteriorated or become malfunction after the predetermined N time is passed. Therefore, if the timer is provided for measuring the time as the fifth embodiment, it may be so arranged that, after the service, the operation information is prepared each time the predetermined N time is passed, so as to be transmitted to the service center 200. This also makes it possible to respond more promptly to a trouble.

[0168] Note that, omitted here is explanation on Step {circle over (4)} for instructing to redo the service, and Step {circle over (5)} for charging the user a cost, which are carried out by the service center 200 (an information management apparatus 4), because Steps {circle over (4)} and {circle over (5)} of the present embodiment are identical with Steps {circle over (6)} and {circle over (7)} of each of the foregoing embodiments.

[0169] Furthermore, even though it is not shown here, in case the self-diagnosis section 13 is provided for making all judgement automatically, as the second embodiment, in case the image forming operation is carried out in excessively low frequency, the control section 12 may control that the time measured by the timer 15 is used as a reference so that an image forming section 20 is made to carry out the image forming operation in the predetermined number of times, so as to perform the self-diagnosis.

[0170] [SEVENTH EMBODIMENT]

[0171] Discussed below is a seventh embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIG. 12. Note that, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. In addition, for convenience of explanation, sections identical with those used in any of the first to sixth embodiments are labelled in the same fashion, and explanation of them is omitted here.

[0172] While, in the first through sixth embodiments, the digital composite machine 1, as the specific example of the electronic apparatus, includes the self-diagnosis section 13 and the E-mail communications section 11 installed inside the digital composite machine 1 (see FIGS. 1, 3, 7 and 9), the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as the present embodiment, another information communications apparatus, which has at least a self-diagnosis function and an E-mail communications function, is externally attached to a digital composite machine 1 c (an electronic apparatus), so that the digital composite machine 1 c is provided with information communications means that corresponds to that of the information communications section 10 (see FIGS. 1, 3, 7, and 9).

[0173] Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, a management system of the present embodiment is provided with an information communications apparatus 5, which is externally attached to the digital composite machine 1 c, which has no information communications function. The digital composite machine 1 c has an arrangement identical with that of the digital composite machine 1, except that the digital composite machine 1 c has no section that corresponds to the information communications section 10. Specifically, the digital composite machine 1 c is provided with an image forming section 20, an operation panel 21 (including a hard key section 21 a and a display panel 21 b), an apparatus control section 12 a, a memory 14, a counter 16, other well-known sections, and an interface section (I/F section) 23.

[0174] On the other hand, the information communications apparatus 5 is provided with an E-mail communications section (apparatus communications means; notifying means; trouble notifying means) 51, an apparatus diagnosis section (self-diagnosis means; an operation condition checking section; a preparation section; operation information preparation means) 52, a communications control section (control means) 53 and an interface section (I/F section) 54.

[0175] The E-mail communications section 51 is communications means for transmitting and receiving an E-mail via a network 3, which is identical with that for the E-mail communications section 11. The apparatus diagnosis section 52, which corresponds to the self-diagnosis section 13, diagnoses condition of the digital composite machine 1 c so as to prepare a diagnosis result (operation information). The I/F sections 23 and 54 are means for communications between the digital composite machine 1 c and the information communications apparatus 5 for various information. The communications control section 53 controls all operation of the information communications apparatus 5, especially for transmitting the diagnosis result (the operation information) to a predetermined receiving end via the E-mail communications section 51.

[0176] Because the I/F section 54 of the information communications apparatus 5 is connected to the I/F section 23 of the digital composite machine 1 c, the digital composite machine 1 c of the present embodiment has an identical function with that of the digital composite machine 1 that has the self-diagnosis function and the E-mail communications function, as discussed in the second embodiment. Note that, the function of the information communications apparatus 5 is specifically identical with those of the first to sixth embodiments. Thus, explanation of the function is omitted here.

[0177] The management system for the electronic apparatus of the present invention can be structured with the digital composite machine 1 c, merely by externally attaching the information communications apparatus 5 thereto, even though the digital composite machine 1 c does not have the self-diagnosis function nor the E-mail communications function. Therefore, it is possible to expand application of the management system of the present invention, thereby allowing the management system to be used more widely.

[0178] In addition, regarding the arrangement where the information communications apparatus 5 is externally attached like the present embodiment, in case a sole user has a plurality of digital composite machines 1 c, it is possible to connect a single information communications apparatus 5 with each of the plural digital composite machines 1 c (this arrangement is not shown here).

[0179] [EIGHTH EMBODIMENT]

[0180] By the way, in the respective forgoing embodiments, explained are cases where the operation information is prepared on condition that the image forming operation is carried out in the predetermined number of times, or when the predetermined period of time is passed. On the contrary, in a present embodiment, operation information is prepared on another condition, that is, when a trouble is detected in supervision on the operation condition of a function. The present embodiment is explained below with reference to FIG. 14.

[0181] Note that, in the following, explained is a case where a hardware arrangement is substantially identical with that arrangement shown in FIG. 7, while it is also so arranged that a user is asked whether the operation is normal or not when the operation is carried out in the predetermined time after the service, then the user is charged for a cost of the service after it is confirmed that the operation is normal, as in the fourth embodiment. However, if a self-diagnosis section 13 is provided, it is also possible to adapt the present embodiment in other arrangements, such as an arrangement where the cost is charged in different timing, and an arrangement where the operation information is prepared only in accordance with the self-diagnosis result, without asking the user about the operation condition.

[0182] For example, a self-diagnosis section 13 of the digital composite machine 1 diagnoses, or a user judges that a first cassette of a digital composite machine 1 has paper jam quite often. Then, {circle over (1)} the digital composite machine 1 or the user of the digital composite machine 1 requests a service center 200 for a service, as the respective forgoing embodiments. If the digital composite machine 1 spontaneously requests the service, included in an E-mail are information for a receiving end to specify the receiving end (the digital composite machine 1), a message to specifically explain a type of the trouble “High occurrence of paper jam in the first cassette”, and a message for the service request “Request for checking”. Moreover, if the user requests the service, similar information is given to the service center 200 by telephone or by facsimile.

[0183] Meanwhile, {circle over (2)} the service center 200, which has been notified of the request for checking, transmits service instructions to an S information terminal 2 carried by a service personnel. The “service instructions” includes information of the user who has sent the request for checking (for example, an address of the user, a type of the digital composite machine 1, and/or an optional unit arrangement), and the type of the trouble. Moreover, the service center 200 also transmits information of parts or goods that requires maintenance (such as a sheet feeding roller), and information of previous services (service history) to the S information terminal 2, in accordance with the information of the user and the type of the trouble, for the sake of more efficient service. Note that, for example, if there is a data base for correlating types of troubles with their causes and solutions, it is also possible to search a trouble similar to the notified trouble in the data base, so that the cause and solution of the trouble searched out are given to the S information terminal 2.

[0184] {circle over (2)} The service personnel, who has received the service instructions, visits the user who is the transmitting end of the request for checking, and {circle over (3)} provides the service. Specifically, feeding operation condition of the first cassette is checked so as to identify a part (a section) causing the trouble. If necessary, the part is renewed. For example, if the trouble (high occurrence of the paper jam) is caused by “slipping” due to worn-out of a rubber of the sheet feeding roller, the service personnel renews a sheet feeding roller mounted on the digital composite machine 1 with a renewal part (a sheet feeding roller) that the service personnel brought with himself. The feeding operation of the first cassette is checked again after the renewal. Further, {circle over (3)} the service is completed when it is checked that the trouble is solved.

[0185] However, sometimes more than one cause makes a trouble. Therefore, even if one cause is solved and apparently the trouble is solved, there may be another unnoticed trouble. Thus, it is important to continue to supervise the operation of the digital composite machine 1, after the service.

[0186] In the present embodiment, the digital composite machine 1 is put under supervision of the self-diagnosis section 13, until predetermined conditions are satisfied so as to judge the operation is normal. If a trouble is detected, the control section 12 simultaneously instructs the E-mail communications section 11 to transmit an E-mail to the information management apparatus 4 (the service center 200). The E-mail contains the operation information to tell that the trouble is caused. For example, in case of the above example of trouble, the digital composite machine 1 supervises the feeding operation condition of the first cassette until the number of times of feeding paper from the first cassette reaches a specific value (N number of times). If paper jam is caused, as shown by {circle over (5)}′ in FIG. 14, the digital composite machine 1 spontaneously sends a confirmation result, which indicates a trouble found during confirmation of the operation condition by E-mail. In this way, the service center 200 can grasp the occurrence of the trouble when the trouble is caused. This enables the service center 200 {circle over (6)} to take some measures, such as giving another service instructions.

[0187] On the contrary, if no trouble is detected until the conditions are satisfied, if necessary, the digital composite machine 1 displays, as shown in FIG. 8(a), a message regarding the operation condition on the display panel 21 b, and while asking the user to confirm the operation condition as shown in FIG. 14 ({circle over (4)}), then, transmits the confirmation result by the user and the self-diagnosis result by E-mail ({circle over (5)}). On the other hand, if the service center 200 receives user's confirmation result to tell that the operation condition is good, similarly to the respective forgoing embodiments, {circle over (7)} a cost of the service is charged to the user on the other hands, if the user's confirmation result or the self-diagnosis result informs that a trouble (malfunction) is detected, {circle over (6)} the service center 200 responds to the trouble, for example, by giving instructions for providing another service.

[0188] The digital composite machine 1 of the present embodiment supervises the operation condition of the parts, which has been serviced, until the predetermined conditions are satisfied, after the service, such as the renewal of the parts. If a trouble is detected, the digital composite machine 1 automatically contacts the service center 200. This allows the service center 200 to grasp the occurrence of the trouble when the trouble is caused, and to promptly respond to the trouble. Moreover, as object of the supervision, it is necessary to carefully supervise only the parts that has been renewed. Meanwhile, supervision is needed only until the condition for checking the normal operation is satisfied. Therefore, without too much load on the digital composite machine 1, it is possible to supervise the section that tends to have a trouble at that time.

[0189] Note that in the present embodiment, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the operation information is prepared based on both the user's confirmation and the self-diagnosis result. This improves the judgement to be more accurate, compared with the case where only one of them is used for the judgement.

[0190] [NINTH EMBODIMENT]

[0191] By the way, in the eighth embodiment, explained is the example where constant is the condition to indicate when the judgement of the normality of the operation is to be made. On the other hands, in a present embodiment, the condition for making the judgement (for example, the number of times of the operation confirmation) is changed into condition of a trouble, for example, trouble frequency or trouble level, with reference to FIGS. 7, 15 and 16.

[0192] In short, a digital composite machine 1 of the present embodiment uses a memory 14 (shown in FIG. 7) to store information that indicates frequency of occurrence of troubles, such as, sheet-feeding information from each cassette (jam frequency log). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, a control section 12 of the digital composite machine 1 counts, for each cassette, how many sheets are jammed out of 100 sheets that has been fed recently, so as to prepare the jam frequency log. Since the jam frequency log is renewed all the time, jam frequency is suddenly increased when suddenly jam is caused more frequently.

[0193] Here, the jam frequency is not only a numerical value to show objectively a trouble sensed by a user, but also to indicate how much the user is dissatisfied (dissatisfaction level of the user; a level of a request for checking). Therefore, the jam frequency after a service should be at least lowered from that before the service, otherwise the user does not feel that the trouble has been solved yet, thus confidence and reliability of the service is deteriorated.

[0194] To avoid such problems, the digital composite machine 1 of the present embodiment refers to the jam frequency log stored in the memory 14, so as to decide how long the operation condition is supervised, in accordance with the jam frequency log. In this way, a length of a period of the supervision is so set that a trouble would occur during the period of supervision if the frequency of the trouble is at the same level as the frequency of the trouble at the time when the instructions for checking are issued.

[0195] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, in case where the jam frequency is 20% according to data stored in the memory 14 when the checking is requested, it means that one out of five sheets are jammed. Therefore, after the service, the supervision for the jam occurrence is carried out while five sheets are fed. If no jam is caused during the period, it is assumed that the frequency is improved.

[0196] In the present embodiment, considering a case where the frequency happens to be low during the period of the supervision, the period of the supervision is so set, just in case, to supervise the feeding of sheets until such a number of sheets are fed, the number of which is calculated by multiplying the frequency by a predetermined ratio (for example, 10 times) in accordance with the frequency. In the above example, because the log in the memory 14 says the frequency is one out of five sheets, a self-diagnosis section 13 supervises the feeding of sheets for jam occurrence until 50 sheets are fed.

[0197] This allows a service center 200 to surely detect the trouble if the trouble is caused at the frequency at the time the checking is requested. As a result, if the service fails to lower the frequency, the service center 200 is able to respond to the problem, for example, by redoing the service, without bothering the user. This can prevent the confidence and reliability of the service from being deteriorated.

[0198] In addition, it is preferable that apparatuses of a service provider, such as the service center 200 or an S information terminals 2, stores the frequency of the trouble (the jam frequency log) at the time when the checking is requested. By doing this, the service center 200 is enabled to show the user, who has requested the checking, a fact that the trouble is not occurred during the period of the supervision, and the frequency of the trouble at the time (jam frequency) when the checking is requested. Because the conditions (frequencies) of the trouble before and after the service can be presented objectively, it is possible to confidently explain the concrete effect of service. This realizes a management system that can win confidence and reliability of the user.

[0199] By the way, in case the period during which the operation is supervised, as in the eighth and ninth embodiments, if service is provided to solve more than one trouble at once, each trouble is supervised in a different period of time. Thus, the periods of supervision for the respective troubles end at different time.

[0200] Shown in FIG. 16 is an example where jam frequently happens in two cassettes (for example, a first cassette and a third cassette), and a service is requested for both the first and third cassettes. In this case, if how many times the operation is carried out (how many sheets are fed) for confirming the result of the service is set in the same manner as above, 50 sheets for the first cassettes and 25 sheets for third cassettes are to be fed until the result of the service is confirmed. Therefore, the supervision for the first cassette is ended when the first cassette feeds 50 sheets, while that for the third cassette is finished when the third cassette feeds 25 sheets.

[0201] In this case, as a comparative example, if the digital composite machine 1 sends to the service center 200 the results respectively at each end of the period of the supervision, it is impossible for the service center 200 to judge whether each of the services are completed normally, when only one of the confirmation result is received. Thus, the service center cannot charge costs of the service at the time. Moreover, because some of the troubles are caused by plural factors (parts or units) that interrelate each other, only one of the confirmation results is not enough for making the judgement. Especially, when the service result is reported with reference to the judgement inputted by the user, it is necessary to ask the user to give instructions at each end of the periods of supervision. Thus, more operation by the user is required.

[0202] On the contrary, in case plural supervision periods are set, the digital composite machine 1 of the present invention inquires the user when all the supervision periods are ended, while transmitting to the service center 200 the service result including the results of the inquiry and the self-diagnosis results for the respective parts under supervision. Because the digital composite machine 1 reports, in this way, all the results together (at once) when all the results are obtained, the service center 200 can make a judgement the service result as a whole. For example, it is possible to perform effectively and promptly the next steps, such as instructing to redo the service or charging. In addition, in the present embodiment, because the service center 200 is notified of the trouble when the trouble occurs, even if a service result regarding a certain function is reported later, it is possible to promptly respond to the trouble.

[0203] [TENTH EMBODIMENT]

[0204] By the way, in the first to ninth embodiments, the digital composite machine 1 transmits the operation information to the information management apparatus 4 (service center 200) for managing the maintenance of the parts or units that cause trouble. On the other hands, in a present embodiment, a digital composite machine 1 is provided with a printer board 101 so that the digital composite machine 1 is used as a network printer. With reference to FIG. 17, explained is a case where such network printer is used so as to have plural receiving ends for the operation information, so that the destination (one of the receiving ends) of the operation information is selected (maybe, a receiving ends other than the service center 200, or in addition to the service center 200), depending on a condition of a trouble, even if a same part or unit has a trouble.

[0205] In short, where the digital composite machine 1 is used as the network printer, the digital composite machine 1 is connected, as shown in FIG. 17, with a user's terminal 7 and a management terminal 8 via a local area network (LAN) 6 such as Ethernet (registered trade mark). The user's terminal 7 and the management terminal 8 are, for example, computers such as personal computers. The user's terminal 7 is used by a common user who uses the network printer (the digital composite machine 1). On the other hands, the management terminal 8 is a terminal used by a manager who manages the LAN 6. The manager uses the management terminal 8 to perform network setting such as setting an address of each apparatus in the LAN 6. In addition, the LAN 6 is also connected with a gateway 9. The apparatuses in the LAN 6, such as the digital composite machine 1, can communicates with an information management apparatus 4 (service center 200) via the gateway 9 and a network 3, which is another network.

[0206] In the above system in which the digital composite machine 1 and another machines (the user's terminal 7) communicate each other and operate, a trouble of the digital composite machine 1 may have a cause in the user's terminal 7 or the LAN 6, besides the digital composite machine 1 itself. Meanwhile, the manager is more familiar with apparatuses used in the LAN 6, compared with ordinary users, and may be able to solve the trouble without contacting the service center 200.

[0207] For example, in case the digital composite machine 1 does not detect the printer board 101, there are some cases where the service center 200 should respond, such as breakdown or improper installation of the printer board 101, while there are other cases in which the manager of the LAN 6 should respond, such as inadequate network setting. Moreover, in case a function which has not expanded yet is set in a printer driver of the user's terminal 7, it is desirable that the user, or the manager, who can give instructions to the user, deals with the trouble, instead of the service center 200, because the printer configuration is mistakenly set by improper operation of the user. On the other hands, in case data processing is not possible due to overcapacity of the memory 14, there are some cases where the service center 200 should respond to the trouble, such as a case the digital composite machine 1 is provided with a memory not having enough capacity for the printing process, while there are other cases that the user or the manager who can advise the user should respond to the trouble, such as a case where an output instructions data from the user's terminal 7 is extraordinarily large, or a case where a character impossible to output is requested for the printing out.

[0208] The digital composite machine 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, stores in the memory 14 a table for response in which descriptions of troubles are corresponded to receiving ends. Thus, in case the self-diagnosis section 13 detects a trouble, the control section 12 refers to the memory 14, and controls the E-mail communications section 11 accordingly to send an E-mail, which contains the operation information, to a right receiving end for solving the trouble. In this way, the digital composite machine 1 transmits the operation information to the receiving end, thereby responding to the trouble timely and effectively.

[0209] For example, in case the digital composite machine 1 detects such a trouble “No printer board 101 is detected”, the digital composite machine 1 refers to the memory 14 and notifies of the trouble the management terminal 8 and the information management apparatus 4 (the service center 200). In this way, the service center 200 checks whether the printer board 101 is broken down or not, or improperly installed or not, for example by dispatching a service personnel again, while the manager of the LAN 6 checks the network setting of the LAN 6. On the other hand, in case detected is such a trouble that “A function which has not expanded yet is set in a printer driver of the user's terminal 7”, the digital composite machine 1 transmits the operation information to the management terminal 8 and the user's terminal 7. In this way, the user checks the printer driver of the user's terminal 7 by himself or in accordance with advice given by the manager, so as to properly set the printer configuration of the printer driver. Furthermore, in case detected is such a trouble that “Data cannot be processed due to the overcapacity of the memory”, the digital composite machine 1 transmits the operation information to the user's terminal 7, the management terminal 8, and the service center 200. In this way, the service center 200 (a) refers to a data base in which a history of the service is stored, (b) checks the digital composite machine 1 via a network 3, or (c) checks the memory capacity in case the operation information includes information about the memory capacity, so as to check whether the memory capacity of the memory 14 provided in the digital composite machine 1 is large enough or not. If the memory capacity is not enough, the service center 200 can increase the memory capacity of the memory 14 of the digital composite machine 1, for example, by dispatching a service personnel. Moreover, in accordance with his own precaution or the advice given by the manager, the user can be careful not to give the digital composite machine 1 instructions to output improper data (data that cannot be outputted by the digital composite machine 1), or extraordinarily large data, when the user operates the user's terminal 7. Furthermore, the digital composite machine 1 of the present embodiment sends the receiving end, who is contacted when the trouble is detected, the operation confirmation result after the trouble is solved. In this way, each receiving end can choose the next step promptly and accordingly. For example, if the manager cannot respond to a trouble, the manager can contact the service center 200 for requesting the service, or if the operation of serviced parts is proved to be normal, the service center 200 charges the cost.

[0210] [ELEVENTH EMBODIMENT]

[0211] By the way, for an electronic apparatus, for example a digital composite 1, which is able to expand its function by an optional unit attached thereto, attaching of the unit gives the electronic apparatus another function associated with the unit. In the present embodiment, explained is an arrangement whether operation information is transmitted when a unit is added, in addition to or instead of the arrangement in which the operation information is transmitted after the provision of the services, such as the renewal of the units or parts.

[0212] As shown in FIG. 19, a digital composite machine 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a printer board 101, an automatic document feeder (ADF) 102, a large-capacity sheet feeding cassette 103, and a post-processing apparatus 104, which can be provided in a digital composite machine main body 100 so as to expand functions of the digital composite machine main body 100, The printer board 101 makes it possible to print out a digital document (data) transmitted from a personnel computer such as the user's terminal 7 discussed above via a LAN 6 or a serial interface. The automatic document feeder 102 can automatically feed the document. The large-capacity sheet feeding cassette 103 can load a larger quantity of printing paper than the digital composite machine main body 100. The post-processing apparatus 104 carried out offset process of the outputted sheet or bookbinding process such as stapling.

[0213] Meanwhile, the digital composite machine main body 100 of the present embodiment is provided with, in addition to the arrangement of the digital composite machine 1 of any one of the respective forgoing embodiments, a unit attachment detection section (detecting means) 17, which detects whether an optional unit is attached or not, as shown in FIG. 20. Moreover, a memory 14 stores the receiving ends so that a right receiving end is contacted for each unit that has been attached.

[0214] In addition, FIG. 20 shows an example where the unit attachment detection section 17 is provided to the digital composite machine 1 of the ninth embodiment (see FIG. 7). Moreover, in case of the arrangement shown in FIG. 12, it is possible to provide the unit attachment detection section 17 in either of the digital composite machine 1 c and the information communications apparatus 5. Meanwhile, in case of the arrangement shown in FIG. 12, it is also possible to provide the unit attachment detection section 17 partially in both the digital composite machine 1 c and the information communications apparatus 5 so that the both of the digital composite machine 1 c and the information communications apparatus 5 communicate each other via the I/F sections 23 and 54 so as to cooperate, thereby realizing the unit attachment detection section 17.

[0215] In the above arrangement, when the unit attachment detection section 17 detects that a unit is attached, a control section 12 refers to the memory 14, and accordingly transmits operation information to a receiving end that is suitable for the unit attached thereto.

[0216]FIG. 21 shows an example, in which the unit attachment detection section 17 provided in the digital composite machine main body 100, detects attachment of the printer board 101 when the printer board 101 is attached to the digital composite machine main body 100. Consequently, the control section 12 reads out the receiving end for the printer board 101. The memory 14 of the present embodiment says that a user of the printer board 101 is the receiving end for the printer board 101. In this case, the control section 12 instructs an E-mail communications section 11 to transmit an E-mail to each user of the printer board 101, so as to inform the respective users of operation condition that the digital composite machine 1 can be used as a printer.

[0217] On the other hands, the users, who receives the notice, installs a printer driver into their user's terminal 7. In this way, the user's terminal 7 can utilize the digital composite machine 1 as a network printer.

[0218] Thereafter, the digital composite machine main body 100 supervises operation condition of the unit that has been attached thereto until satisfied is a condition set for judging that the operation of the unit is normal (for example, until the operation is carried out in a predetermined number of times), similarly to the case where the parts are renewed. Here, if a trouble is detected during the supervision period, for example, by referring to the memory 14, the control section 12 of the digital composite machine main body 100 learns a predetermined receiving ends as a receiving ends for that kind of trouble, such as a service center 200 or a management terminal 8 or the user's terminal 7. Meanwhile, the control section 12 instructs the E-mail communications section 11 to transmit the receiving end an E-mail that includes the operation information.

[0219] Upon receipt of the operation information, the service center 200 carries out the service, such as instructing an S information terminal 2 for a service, dispatching a service personnel, or giving advice the user how to solve the problem. Meanwhile, when the management terminal 8 receives the operation information, the manager checks the network setting of the LAN 6 in accordance with the operation information, so as to solve the trouble, for example, by correcting an inadequate part of the network setting. Furthermore, when the user's terminal 7 receives the operation information, and the user is notified of the trouble in the unit, the user deals with the trouble, by cancelling the printout, or by using another printer to print out.

[0220] Moreover, if the trouble is detected, or if normal operation cannot be detected after the attachment of the unit, it is preferable that the control section 12 of the digital composite machine main body 100 stops the operation of the unit forcibly, by instructing the unit to stop its operation, or by stopping the instructions to operate the unit. In this case, it is possible to avoid that the unit having the trouble is operated until a consecutive trouble, such as further worsening the damage of the unit, is caused.

[0221] Here, in case the digital composite machine 1 is used as the network printer, assistance of the manager of the LAN 6 is indispensable for operating the network printer properly, because the network printer is largely affected by the setting of the network (the LAN 6). In most cases, the manager can solve the trouble associated with the network printer. In this case, it is possible to register only the management terminal 8 as the receiving end. Meanwhile, in case where requesting the service center 200 for a service costs the user, it is preferable that the digital composite machine main body 100 asks the user whether the user wants to request the service, or not, by using the display of the display panel 21 b, and inputs his answer before transmitting the operation information to the service center 200 for requesting the service. This makes it possible to decide to request the service center 200 for the service or not in accordance with user's instructions inputted into an operation panel 21, for example.

[0222] Furthermore, when the trouble is solved by renewing the printer board 101, or by correcting the network setting, as a result of the service or the response by the manager, the digital composite machine main body 100 transmits an E-mail to notify the users of the network printer that the digital composite machine 1 can be used as a printer.

[0223] On the contrary, in case no trouble is detected during the supervision period, the control section 12 asks the user whether there is any trouble or not, by means of a display shown on a display panel 21 b. When an answer as to whether there is any trouble or not is inputted into the operation panel 21, the control section 12 prepares operation information in accordance with a self-diagnosis result given by the self-diagnosis section 13 and the answer inputted by the user, so as to send the operation information, by controlling the E-mail communications section 11, to a predetermined receiving end for a time when normal operation is confirmed. An example for such predetermined receiving end is the service center 200. In this way, the service center 200 can grasp that the printer board 101 is attached to the digital composite machine main body 100, and operates normally. Moreover, in case the user request a service of the digital composite machine main body 100 thereafter, the service center 200 can decide how to deal with the trouble for which the service is requested, considering the fact that the service center 200 has received a report that the printer board 101 operates normally.

[0224] On the other hands, as shown in FIG. 22, if the digital composite machine main body 100 is provided with the automatic document feeder 102, the digital composite machine 1 is able to automatically feed the sheet, thereby, for example, automatically exchanging the sheet when making a photocopy. Here, it is assumed that a user of the automatic document feeder 102 goes to where the digital composite machine main body 100 is located, in order to operate the digital composite machine main body 100, on contrary to the case the digital composite machine 1 operates as the network printer. Therefore, the control section 12 of the digital composite machine main body 100 refers to the memory 14, and displays on the display panel 21 b a message that the automatic document feeder 102 is available, as a notice to the user of the automatic document feeder 102.

[0225] In this case, after the automatic document feeder 102 is attached, a first user to use the digital composite machine 1 checks the display panel 21 b of the digital composite machine main body 100, and operates, for example, the operation panel 21, so as to set various copy functions. Here, when the automatic document feeder 102 is attached, the digital composite machine main body 100 displays on the display panel 21 b a message indicating that the automatic document feeder 102 is available. Therefore, the user can be informed that the digital composite machine 1 has a new function, by looking at the display panel 21 b. In addition, the transmission is carried out in the same manner as the case where the printer board 101 is attached, when the operation information is transmitted in case of the trouble or in case of the end of the supervision period.

[0226] Note that, while the foregoing embodiments, including the present embodiment, uses the digital composite machine (the image forming apparatus) as the example of the electronic apparatus, the present invention is, of course, not limited to that example. As the electronic apparatus, a personnel computer can be another example. Alternatively, if various machines used in private or in business are electronically controlled, and are able to be connected to the Internet, it is possible to sufficiently employ the management system for the electronic apparatus of the present invention.

[0227] As discussed above, an electronic apparatus (1, 1 c, 100) of the present invention is an electronic 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic apparatus having a specific function, comprising: apparatus communications means for transmitting an electronic mail to a predetermined receiving end that is linked with said apparatus communications means via a network; operation information preparation means, including {circle over (1)} an operation condition checking section for checking operation condition of the specific function after said electronic apparatus is serviced, and {circle over (2)} a preparation section for preparing operation information that indicates the operation condition that has been checked by said operation condition checking section; and control means (a) for controlling said operation information preparation means so as to prepare the operation information after operation of the specific function is resumed after the provision of the service, and (b) for controlling said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 2. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said operation information preparation means includes self-diagnosis means for diagnosing condition of said electronic apparatus so as to prepare a self-diagnosis result, and said control means (a) controls the self-diagnosis means so as to diagnoses the condition of said electronic apparatus after the provision of the service, and (b) controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the self-diagnosis result as the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 3. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said self-diagnosis means supervises the operation condition until a predetermined condition is satisfied, and said control means controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the self-diagnosis result as the operation information, irrespective of whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied, in case said self-diagnosis means detects a trouble.
 4. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said control means changes the predetermined condition in accordance with condition of a trouble at a time when the service is provided.
 5. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of (a) a number of times in which the specific function is operated after the provision of the service, and (b) time passed since the service is provided.
 6. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in case plural parts or units are renewed in the service, the operation information is prepared in accordance with operation condition of a specific function of each part or unit, when all the predetermined conditions of the respective parts or units are satisfied.
 7. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said operation information preparation means prepares the operation information in accordance with the operation condition of the specific function that has been carried out until the predetermined condition is satisfied.
 8. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of (a) a number of times in which the specific function is operated after the provision of the service, and (b) time passed since the service.
 9. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the predetermined condition is changeable.
 10. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein, in case plural parts or units are renewed in the service, the operation information is prepared in accordance with operation condition of a specific function of each part or unit, when all the predetermined conditions of the respective parts or units are satisfied.
 11. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said operation information preparation means, at least includes {circle over (1)} display means capable of displaying information and {circle over (2)} input means capable of receiving information, and said control means (a) controls said display means so as to display a message for asking to input information whether the condition of said electronic apparatus is adequate after the provision of the service, by means of said input means, and (b) controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit, as the operation information, an inputted result, which has been inputted by means of said input means, to said predetermined receiving end.
 12. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein, only in case said operation information preparation means prepares operation information that indicates inadequate operation condition of said electronic apparatus, said control means controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 13. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein in case said operation information preparation means prepares operation information that indicates inadequate operation condition of said electronic apparatus, said control means (a) controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end, and (b) controls parts of said electronic apparatus, which causes the inadequate operation condition, so as to temporally stop to operate.
 14. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said control means includes trouble notifying means for notifying a user, who uses the specific function, of unavailability of the specific function, when said part of said electronic apparatus, which causes the inadequate operation condition, is temporally stopped to operate.
 15. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electronic apparatus is an image forming apparatus.
 16. An electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising notifying means for notifying a user, who uses the specific function, of the operation condition which has been checked by said operation condition checking section, after the operation of the specific function is resumed or started.
 17. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said notifying means notifies a user, who uses the specific function, at a time the operation condition is checked as normal by said operation condition checking section, after the operation of the specific function is resumed or started.
 18. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermined receiving end includes each user of the specific function.
 19. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in order to transmit the operation information that indicates the operation condition, said control means selects said receiving end in accordance with the operation condition of the specific function checked by said operation condition checking section.
 20. A management system for an electronic apparatus, comprising: a predetermined receiving end; and said electronic apparatus having a specific function, said electronic apparatus including: apparatus communications means for transmitting an electronic mail to said predetermined receiving end that is linked with said apparatus communications means via a network; operation information preparation means, having {circle over (1)} an operation condition checking section for checking operation condition of the specific function after said electronic apparatus is serviced, and {circle over (2)} a preparation section for preparing operation information that indicates the operation condition that has been checked by said operation condition checking section; and control means (a) for controlling said operation information preparation means so as to prepare the operation information after operation of the specific function is resumed after the provision of the service, and (b) for controlling said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 21. The management system for said electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said predetermined receiving end includes a primary receiving end for receiving the operation information directly from said electronic apparatus, and a secondary receiving end to which said primary receiving end can transmit instructions information as to the service.
 22. The management system for said electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein said primary receiving end charges a cost of the service when received is operation information to indicate adequate operation of said electronic apparatus after the service.
 23. An electronic apparatus, comprising: apparatus communications means for transmitting an electronic mail to a predetermined receiving end that is linked with said apparatus communications means via a network; operation information preparation means, including {circle over (1)} an operation condition checking section for checking operation condition of, as a specific function, a part of said electronic apparatus, which has been renewed, after the renewal of said part, and {circle over (2)} a preparation section for preparing operation information that indicates the operation condition that has been checked by said operation condition checking section; and control means (a) for controlling said operation information preparation means so as to prepare the operation information after operation of the specific function is resumed after the renewal of said part, and (b) for controlling said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 24. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein: said operation information preparation means includes self-diagnosis means for diagnosing condition of said electronic apparatus so as to prepare a self-diagnosis result, and said control means (a) controls the self-diagnosis means so as to diagnoses the condition of said electronic apparatus after the renewal of said part, and (b) controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the self-diagnosis result as the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 25. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein: said self-diagnosis means supervises the operation condition until a predetermined condition is satisfied, and said control means controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the self-diagnosis result as the operation information, irrespective of whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied, in case said self-diagnosis means detects a trouble.
 26. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said control means changes the predetermined condition in accordance with condition of a trouble at a time when said part is renewed.
 27. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of (a) a number of times in which the specific function as operated after the renewal of said part, and (b) time passed since said part is renewed.
 28. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein, in case plural parts are renewed, the operation information is prepared in accordance with operation condition of a specific function of each part, when all the predetermined conditions of the respective parts are satisfied.
 29. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said operation information preparation means prepares the operation information in accordance with the operation condition of the specific function that has been carried out until the predetermined condition is satisfied.
 30. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of (a) a number of times in which the specific function is operated after the renewal of said part, and (b) time passed since the renewal.
 31. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein the predetermined condition is changeable.
 32. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein, in case plural parts are renewed, the operation information is prepared in accordance with operation condition of a specific function of each part, when all the predetermined conditions of the respective parts are satisfied.
 33. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein: said operation information preparation means, at least includes {circle over (1)} display means capable of displaying information and {circle over (2)} input means capable of receiving information, and said control means (a) controls said display means so as to display a message for asking to input information whether the condition of said electronic apparatus is adequate after the renewal of said part, by means of said input means, and (b) controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit, as the operation information, an inputted result, which has been inputted by means of said input means, to said predetermined receiving end.
 34. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein, only in case said operation information preparation means prepares operation information that indicates inadequate operation condition of said electronic apparatus, said control means controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 35. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein in case said operation information preparation means prepares operation information that indicates inadequate operation condition of said electronic apparatus, said control means (a) controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end, and (b) controls parts of said electronic apparatus, which causes the inadequate operation condition, so as to temporally stop to operate.
 36. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 35, wherein said control means includes trouble notifying means for notifying a user, who uses the specific function, of unavailability of the specific function, when said part of said electronic apparatus, which causes the inadequate operation condition, is temporally stopped to operate.
 37. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said electronic apparatus is an image forming apparatus.
 38. An electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising notifying means for notifying a user, who uses the specific function, of the operation condition which has been checked by said operation condition checking section, after the operation of the specific function is resumed or started.
 39. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 38, wherein said notifying means notifies a user, who uses the specific function, at a time the operation condition is checked as normal by said operation condition checking section, after the operation of the specific function is resumed or started.
 40. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said predetermined receiving end includes each user of the specific function.
 41. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein, in order to transmit the operation information that indicates the operation condition, said control means selects said receiving end in accordance with the operation condition of the specific function checked by said operation condition checking section.
 42. A management system for an electronic apparatus, comprising: a predetermined receiving end; and said electronic apparatus, including: apparatus communications means for transmitting an electronic mail to said predetermined receiving end that is linked with said apparatus communications means via a network; operation information preparation means, including {circle over (1)} an operation condition checking section for checking operation condition of, as a specific function, a part of said electronic apparatus, which has been renewed, after the renewal of said part, and {circle over (2)} a preparation section for preparing operation information that indicates the operation condition that has been checked by said operation condition checking section; and control means (a) for controlling said operation information preparation means so as to prepare the operation information after operation of the specific function is resumed after the renewal of said part, and (b) for controlling said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 43. The management system for said electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 42, wherein said predetermined receiving end includes a primary receiving end for receiving the operation information directly from said electronic apparatus, and a secondary receiving end to which said primary receiving end can transmit instructions information as to a service.
 44. The management system for said electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 43, wherein said primary receiving end charges a cost of the service when received is operation information to indicate adequate operation of said electronic apparatus after the service.
 45. An electronic apparatus, which is capable of expanding its function by an optional unit attached to said electronic apparatus, comprising: apparatus communications means for transmitting an electronic mail to a predetermined receiving end that is linked with said apparatus communications means via a network; detecting means for detecting the attachment of said unit; operation information preparation means, including {circle over (1)} an operation condition checking section for checking operation condition of, as a specific function, a function of said unit, which has been attached, and {circle over (2)} a preparation section for preparing operation information that indicates the operation condition that has been checked by said operation condition checking section; and control means (a) for controlling said operation information preparation means so as to prepare the operation information after the attachment of said unit is detected and operation of the specific function is resumed, and (b) for controlling said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 46. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein: said detecting means is capable of detecting a renewed unit among said units that has been attached, said operation information preparation means prepares the operation information that indicates the operation condition of, as the specific function, the function of said unit which has been renewed and thus newly attached, and said control means controls said operation information preparation means so as to prepare the operation information, after operation of the specific function is resumed.
 47. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein: said operation information preparation means includes self-diagnosis means for diagnosing condition of said electronic apparatus so as to prepare a self-diagnosis result, and said control means (a) controls the self-diagnosis means so as to diagnoses the condition of said electronic apparatus after the attachment of said unit, and (b) controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the self-diagnosis result as the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 48. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein: said self-diagnosis means supervises the operation condition until a predetermined condition is satisfied, and said control means controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the self-diagnosis result as the operation information, irrespective of whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied, in case said self-diagnosis means detects a trouble.
 49. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 48, wherein said control means changes the predetermined condition in accordance with condition of a trouble at a time when said unit is renewed.
 50. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 48, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of (a) a number of times in which the specific function is operated after the attachment of said unit, and (b) time passed since said unit is attached.
 51. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 48, wherein, in case plural units are attached, the operation information is prepared in accordance with operation condition of a specific function of each unit, when all the predetermined conditions of the respective units are satisfied.
 52. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein said operation information preparation means prepares the operation information in accordance with the operation condition of the specific function that has been carried out until the predetermined condition is satisfied.
 53. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 52, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of (a) a number of times in which the specific function is operated after the attachment of said unit, and (b) time passed since the attachment.
 54. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 52, wherein the predetermined condition is changeable.
 55. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 52, wherein, in case plural units are attached, the operation information is prepared in accordance with operation condition of a specific function of each unit, when all the predetermined conditions of the respective units are satisfied.
 56. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein: said operation information preparation means, at least includes {circle over (1)} display means capable of displaying information and {circle over (2)} input means capable of receiving information, and said control means (a) controls said display means so as to display a message for asking to input information whether the condition of said electronic apparatus is adequate after the attachment of said unit, by means of said input means, and (b) controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit, as the operation information, an inputted result, which has been inputted by means of said input means, to said predetermined receiving end.
 57. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein, only in case said operation information preparation means prepares operation information that indicates inadequate operation condition of said electronic apparatus, said control means controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 58. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein in case said operation information preparation means prepares operation information that indicates inadequate operation condition of said electronic apparatus, said control means (a) controls said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end, and (b) controls parts of said electronic apparatus, which causes the inadequate operation condition, so as to temporally stop to operate.
 59. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 58, wherein said control means includes trouble notifying means for notifying a user, who uses the specific function, of unavailability of the specific Function, when said part of said electronic apparatus, which causes the inadequate operation condition, is temporally stopped to operate.
 60. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein said electronic apparatus is an image forming apparatus.
 61. An electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, further comprising notifying means for notifying a user, who uses the specific function, of the operation condition which has been checked by said operation condition checking section, after the operation of the specific function is resumed or started.
 62. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 61, wherein said notifying means notifies a user, who uses the specific function, at a time the operation condition is checked as normal by said operation condition checking section, after the operation of the specific function is resumed or started.
 63. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein said predetermined receiving end includes each user of the specific function.
 64. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein, in order to transmit the operation information that indicates the operation condition, said control means selects said receiving end in accordance with the operation condition of the specific function checked by said operation condition checking section.
 65. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein said control means selects said receiving end for the operation information, depending on which unit is attached.
 66. A management system for an electronic apparatus, comprising: a predetermined receiving end; and said electronic apparatus, which is capable of expanding its function by an optional unit attached to said electronic apparatus, including: apparatus communications means for transmitting an electronic mail to said predetermined receiving end that is linked with said apparatus communications means via a network; detecting means for detecting the attachment of said unit; operation information preparation means, including {circle over (1)} an operation condition checking section for checking operation condition of, as a specific function, a function of said unit, which has been attached, and {circle over (2)} a preparation section for preparing operation information that indicates the operation condition that has been checked by said operation condition checking section; and control means (a) for controlling said operation information preparation means so as to prepare the operation information after the attachment of said unit is detected and operation of the specific function is resumed, and (b) for controlling said apparatus communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 67. The management system for said electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 66, wherein said predetermined receiving end includes a primary receiving end for receiving the operation information directly from said electronic apparatus, and a secondary receiving end to which said primary receiving end can transmit instructions information as to a service.
 68. The management system for said electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 67, wherein said primary receiving end charges a cost of the service when received is operation information to indicate adequate operation of said electronic apparatus after the service.
 69. An information communications apparatus capable of being externally connected with an electronic apparatus having a specific function, comprising: communications means, connected with a network, being capable of transmitting information to a predetermined receiving end by electronic mail; control means for controlling the transmission of the information in accordance with operation of said electronic apparatus; and operation information preparation means for preparing operation information that indicates operation condition of said electronic apparatus, wherein said control means (a) controls said operation information preparation means so as to prepare the operation information after operation of the specific function is resumed after said electronic apparatus is serviced, and (b) controls said communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 70. A management system for an electronic apparatus, comprising: a predetermined receiving end; said electronic apparatus having a specific functions; and an information communications apparatus capable of being externally connected with said electronic apparatus, said information communications apparatus, including: communications means, connected with a network, being capable of transmitting information to said predetermined receiving end by electronic mail; control means for controlling the transmission of the information in accordance with operation of said electronic apparatus; and operation information preparation means for preparing operation information that indicates operation condition of said electronic apparatus, wherein said control means (a) controls said operation information preparation means so as to prepare the operation information after operation of the specific function is resumed after said electronic apparatus is serviced, and (b) controls said communications means so as to transmit the operation information to said predetermined receiving end.
 71. The management system for said electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 70, wherein said predetermined receiving end includes a primary receiving end for receiving the operation information directly from said electronic apparatus, and a secondary receiving end to which said primary receiving end can transmit instructions information as to a service.
 72. The management system for said electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 71, wherein said primary receiving end charges a cost of the service when received is operation information to indicate adequate operation of said electronic apparatus after the service.
 73. A management method for an electronic apparatus, comprising the steps of: preparing operation information that indicates operation condition of said electronic apparatus, after operation of a specific function of said electronic apparatus is resumed after said electronic apparatus is serviced; and transmitting to a predetermined receiving end the operation information, at least as a judgement reference for judging whether or not it is necessary to redo the service, wherein said electronic apparatus has a specific function, and is linked with said predetermined receiving end via network so that said electronic apparatus is capable of transmitting information to said receiving end by electronic mail. 